Month: March 2017

Categories
Healthy Activities Yoga

“Emotions don’t compute”

by Gabor Maté M.D – The Biology of Loss and Recovery … Here’s the talk. It’s just so … dead on.
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Enough of my escapades even though I have more to share … this weekend I am back to my Yoga Therapist Teacher Training. The module for the weekend is “Trauma informed Yoga”.
It is sobering to learn that “trauma” is so prevalent in our society as this data indicates.
How does yoga have anything to do with healing? Everything – everything. Whenever we deal with Fight, Flight or Freeze reactions, yoga therapy can really really help and I am here to learn all about it.

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But emotions are … human. It’s everything real. They are what makes us human so do we need to control them?

After seeing this video, so convinced how yogis can help – we can help the parents and grandparents and … teachers ! Parents and teachers have immense responsibility. Yoga can support their work. Their work to raise healthy happy kids ! Who grow up to be well adjusted, resilient adults who make this world a better place for all.

“Solution is mindfulness.”

And as with anything you teach, it starts with you, the teacher.

Categories
Anything Cute Beautiful People Beautiful Places

Meow

If you speak more than one language you know that “meow” in English is not the cat meow in another language/country. It’s “Nyaa-Nyaa” or “Myaa-Myaa” in Japanese in case you want to be bilingual in cat talk:) In fact, Japanese language has refreshing variety of Onomatopoeia to capture the sounds of heart thumping to rivers flowing to birds chirping… My personal favorite is “waku-waku!” for hearts pounding with excitement and anticipation ! Another fav might be “uki-uki” – a feeling of anticipation, looking forward to something – that feel of spring:) We want that daily in our lives, don’t we?

Cat lovers’ store is open only on weekends… then this store named simply “S” is only open on Saturdays. Tucked away in one of these narrow alleyways.   It’s a quaint retro throw back to Showa era kind of town.  

The shopkeeper is like a curator of a gallery. She tells a story on each of the display items that are whimsical and rather …unique.

Nostalgic air fills the narrow streets where new space is emerging – charming “shitamachi”* here off the grid from the “Monjya” main street.
What’s “Monjya”? It’s a signature dish in this parts of town consisting of a grill for table, and pancake like batter to be grilled with all kinds of savory morsels of meats, shellfish, veggies, mochi noodles and even … cheese and the latest new ingredient option … tortilla. It’s a total mix-up, thus, “monja”! Japanese are a master at incorporating foreign ingredients and making it their own … whether be curry, mayonnaise or demiglaze sauce  

It’s Moon Island of a place …  we recognize so much can co-exist and still be traditional and harmonious.

* “shitamachi” – what is “shitamachi”? Usually points to an older part of town that’s more a commoner’s merchant district vs. the more upscale and fashionable or polished uptown areas such as Aoyama, Hiroo, Daikanyama, etc. Contrast to the more elite areas, there’s a more vintage feel to this area as the area tends to be untouched or left behind in the rapid architectural commercial development taking place in rest of the city. For that reason, it’s charm is undeniable.

Categories
Healthy Food Uncategorized

Curry Rolls – Bakery Heaven

A miracle that I did not gain any weight visiting these bakeries in Tokyo – thanking the no-car life with lots of yoga… Nevertheless, I am back on “spring detox” cleanse next week on mostly plant based protein intake. Sayonara Japanese breads, the biggest temptations there – it was not sushi…rather, it’s all the rolls, pastries, cakes, breads – “kashi-pan” plain as in “melon-pan” or filled with jam, custard creams, chocolate puddings, bean pastes, savory and sweet … they are the biggest temptations.
The much loved import from India for decades must be flavor of curry. Here in Japan. You find it of course on rice, even in udon noodles but most loved baked into bread. 3-5 varieties at this bakery near banks of Sumida river.